{"id":245360,"date":"2012-09-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-09-14T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/coming-of-age-with-pippin\/"},"modified":"2012-09-14T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2012-09-14T07:00:00","slug":"coming-of-age-with-pippin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/coming-of-age-with-pippin\/","title":{"rendered":"Coming of age with \u2018Pippin\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diversionary Theatre brings back James Vasquez to stage their \u2018biggest tech show\u2019 yet<\/strong><\/p>\n

Por Charlene Baldridge | Reportero SDUN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Coming
(l to r) Megan Carmitchel, Luke H. Jacobs, Tony Houck, Courtney Corey, Hunter Schwarz, Andy Collins and Wendy Maples in \u2018Pippin\u2019 (Photo by Ken Jacques)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re having a blast putting our crazy show together,\u201d said director James Vasquez. The show is Stephen Schwartz\u2019s classic 1972 musical, \u201cPippin,\u201d which took over Diversionary Theatre in University Heights Sept. 6 for a five-week run.<\/p>\n

The hot young director in town, Vasquez recently staged Diversionary\u2019s world-premiere hit, \u201cHarmony, Kansas.\u201d Since 2003, he has helmed The Old Globe\u2019s \u201cDr. Seuss\u2019 How the Grinch Stole Christmas,\u201d with other Globe credits that include \u201cThe Rocky Horror Show,\u201d \u201cEmma\u201d \u2013 as associate director \u2013 and \u201cBoeing-Boeing.\u201d He received the Craig Noel San Diego Critics Circle Award for his co-direction of Cygnet\u2019s \u201cSweeney Todd,\u201d proving he has an ear for song and a heart for humankind, which makes him the perfect shepherd for the elusive \u201cPippin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schwartz is author of the phenomenal hit musical, \u201cWicked,\u201d yet \u201cPippin\u201d began as a student production when Schwartz was in college. The original piece was directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, and starred Ben Vereen as the manipulative Leading Player, who guides or pushes \u2013 depending upon perspective \u2013 the title character through his picaresque search for adulthood.<\/p>\n

In Roger O. Hirson\u2019s book, Pippin is the gauche eldest son of the mythical King Charlemagne, who is wed to Fastrada (played by Luke Jacobs), who prefers that her son, Lewis, inherit the throne. \u201cShe\u201d makes Pippin\u2019s life miserable.<\/p>\n

Vasquez calls \u201cPippin\u201d a universal coming-of-age story with appeal for everyone. \u201cWe reach these points in our lives \u2013 whether at 20 or 30 or 50 \u2013 where we have to rediscover who we are, re-configure and accept,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Pippin (Louis Pardo) discovers that he is not cut out for military life, decides that someone as extraordinary as he needs to discover something extraordinary to do with his life. Hence, the quest, which acquaints him with love, reacquaints him with his grandmother and allows him to accept himself.<\/p>\n

Though Vasquez intends to be faithful to the score and the script \u2013 the official one sanctioned by Schwartz \u2013 he said he \u201cdirties it up a bit\u201d with numerous gender switches and modern elements, like social media and extreme voyeurism. \u201cIt\u2019s the idea of reality television,\u201d Vasquez said, \u201cand how obsessed we are as a society with everybody else\u2019s business.\u201d<\/p>\n

It seemed natural that Vasquez\u2019s gender bending include the casting of Courtney Corey as the Leading Player. The two first met 15 years ago in a Welk Theatre production of \u201cNo, No, Nanette.\u201d Corey was a prot\u00e9g\u00e9e of the late, great Priscilla Allen at San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. She also attended San Diego State University, and from there, moved into the Broadway touring companies of \u201cRent\u201d and \u201cWicked.\u201d San Diegans know her from her recent performances in North Coast Rep\u2019s \u201cLend me a Tenor\u201d and San Diego Rep\u2019s \u201cThe Great American Trailer Musical.\u201d<\/p>\n

In an update just prior to technical rehearsals at Diversionary, Vasquez said working with Corey again is a good for the production. Calling \u201cPippin\u201d a \u201cbig show,\u201d he also said it was challenging; yet a challenge he is able to meet with the constant support Diversionary has given the team.<\/p>\n

Charlene Baldridge<\/strong>: What have you discovered about Pippin \u2013 the show and character \u2013 that you didn\u2019t know before?<\/p>\n

\u00a0James Vasquez<\/strong>: It\u2019s a big show.\u00a0Boy oh boy, is it a big show, and we\u2019re doing it with a cast of only 8, intentionally.\u00a0There have been challenges in making that work \u2026\u00a0but within those challenges we\u2019ve discovered some fun ways of storytelling, forcing us and our audience to really think outside of the box and take this journey.<\/p>\n

We set out to tell \u201cPippin\u201d in our voice, and every day we find more relevance to our modern times.\u00a0It\u2019s really quite a brilliant script in that way.\u00a0It\u2019s so specific to a certain time, but is full of such universal themes that we\u2019ve found it really easy to relate to each in our own personal way.<\/p>\n

Not speaking for every production of \u201cPippin\u201d out there, but certainly the ones I\u2019ve seen, the role of Pippin has always been played as a weak, dreamy-eyed guy.\u00a0Thankfully, that\u2019s not Louis Pardo\u2019s personality at all.\u00a0He has a confident and outgoing presence and isn\u2019t afraid of falling down and getting back up to start over.<\/p>\n

I think that\u2019s what we\u2019ve really discovered about our Pippin.\u00a0He knows there\u2019s a place for him somewhere in this world, but keeps bumping up against gigantic walls.\u00a0He could turn around and quit, or fight to get over that [next] wall.\u00a0He may not like what\u2019s on the other side, but he\u2019s determined to find out.<\/p>\n

CB<\/strong>: What have you discovered about Courtney [Corey] that you never dreamed?<\/p>\n

JV<\/strong>: Courtney surprises and teaches us something new everyday.\u00a0She comes to us with such a strong background and resume, and is so willing to play and try things, proving herself a real role model.\u00a0It\u2019s been fun to watch her create the role of Leading Player in such a way that she\u2019s become much more than just our tour guide or emcee for the evening. Her character is flawed and struggles to maintain total control, leaving us to wonder whether she\u2019s fighting for the good guys or the bad.<\/p>\n

CB<\/strong>: And what of Schwartz?\u00a0Have you been in contact with him?<\/p>\n

JV<\/strong>: I have many direct sources to Mr. Schwartz, but we\u2019ve yet to reach out to him.\u00a0It\u2019s been fun figuring it out for ourselves, finding our \u201cPippin\u201d and what it means to us in the here and now.\u00a0I hope he\u2019ll come see it, though.<\/p>\n

CB<\/strong>: What shed the most light on the project?<\/p>\n

JV<\/strong>: Well, certainly the modern and totally invasive world we live in, but even more so, my fantastic cast and production team.\u00a0I always come into a project with very strong and specific ideas, and lay out a road map, but [also] make sure that I leave some brain space for what the rest of [the] ensemble has to bring to the table.\u00a0The energy my actors bring can\u2019t help but influence decisions about the storytelling.<\/p>\n

Charlie Reuter, our music director, is so smart and enthusiastic in his approach.\u00a0He\u2019s found a way to be faithful to Mr. Schwartz\u2019s original score, but always allows the individual to put their own voice to it.\u00a0Annette Ye, who is co-choreographing with me, brings a real modern-movement language to the piece that has also been extremely informative in creating our world.<\/p>\n

And then you add Sean Fanning\u2019s set, Shirley Pierson\u2019s costumes and Kevin Anthenill\u2019s sound and video work into the mix!\u00a0They\u2019ve been great in supporting my crazy ideas, bringing their own crazy ideas to the table and inspiring me to think even more outside of the box.<\/p>\n

CB<\/strong>: Now that you\u2019re upon techs, how do you feel about your choices and would you do it all again?<\/p>\n

JV<\/strong>: Yes, of course. Yes. We\u2019ve still got a few days in the rehearsal room, and there are definitely a lot of unknowns tech-wise.\u00a0I think this may be the biggest tech show Diversionary has ever done, as a matter of fact.\u00a0We\u2019re incorporating some elements that haven\u2019t been seen on that stage before, so it\u2019s risky.\u00a0But I think we all feel passionate about these ideas and what they add to the story we\u2019re trying to tell.<\/p>\n

You know, it\u2019s a gamble taking a show so widely known and re-imagining it. You hope that audiences respond positively.\u00a0But, I know we\u2019re all beyond grateful for the creative freedom Bret [Young] and John [Alexander of Diversionary] have given us.\u00a0They occasionally give us funny and confused looks, but then they say, \u2018Let\u2019s give it a try.\u2019\u00a0As artists, you can\u2019t ask for much more.<\/p>\n

\u201cPippin\u201d plays Sept. 6 through Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. (Thursdays through Saturdays) and 2 p.m. (Sundays), with special performances at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12 and Monday, Sept. 24. Diversionary Theatre is located at 4545 Park Blvd. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit diversionary.org or call 619-220-0097.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Diversionary Theatre brings back James Vasquez to stage their \u2018biggest tech show\u2019 yet By Charlene Baldridge | SDUN Reporter \u201cWe\u2019re having a blast putting our crazy show together,\u201d said director James Vasquez. The show is Stephen Schwartz\u2019s classic 1972 musical, \u201cPippin,\u201d which took over Diversionary Theatre in University Heights Sept. 6 for a five-week run. […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":726,"featured_media":245361,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"11555","_seopress_titles_title":"Coming of age with \u2018Pippin\u2019","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[11549,11547,11551,11555],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-245360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-features","category-news","category-uptown-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/726"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=245360"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245360\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/245361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=245360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=245360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=245360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}